ESPN goes British for World Cup

BRISTOL, Conn.(AP) — ESPN’s World Cup telecasts will have a
British accent.

Adrian Healey, Derek Rae and Ian Darke have been hired by ESPN
for its U.S. broadcasts at this year’s World Cup and will join
Martin Tyler to give the network British play-by-play announcers
for all 64 games beginning June 11.

Healey, who is English, called matches for ESPN at the 2006
World Cup and 2007 Women’s World Cup, and has announced European
Champions League, Serie A, La Liga and FA Cup broadcasts forESPN. He hosts Premier League studio shows for ESPN this season.

Rae, who is Scottish, has worked for ESPN since 1994 announcing
the Champions League and international games.

Darke works in England broadcasting Premier League matches on
Sky Sports, as does Tyler, who will be ESPN’s lead play-by-play
man.

Former U.S. captain John Harkes and former Nigerian national
team forward Efan Ekoku will be among the television color
commentators, but the crew pairings have not been set.

JP Dellacamera, the play-by-play announcer who has been paired
with Harkes for U.S. national team telecasts, will shift to ESPN
Radio for the World Cup and form the lead team there with
analyst Tommy Smyth.